Neurocritical care
-
Acute muscle wasting is common in critically ill patients, and this can lead to unfavorable clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with muscle wasting and to investigate the association between skeletal muscle wasting and prolonged hospital stay in critically ill patients with acute brain injury. ⋯ There was considerable muscle wasting in critically ill patients with brain injuries over a 1-week period. Acute muscle wasting was associated with prolonged hospital stay in critically ill patients with acute brain injury.
-
Assessing pupil size and reactivity is the standard of care in neurocritically ill patients. Anisocoria observed in critically ill patients often prompts further investigation and treatment. This study explores anisocoria at rest and after light stimulus determined using quantitative pupillometry as a predictor of discharge modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. ⋯ Anisocoria after light is a new biomarker that portends worse outcome than anisocoria at rest. After further validation, anisocoria after light should be considered for inclusion as a reported and trended assessment value.
-
Depth electroencephalography (dEEG) is a recent invasive monitoring technique used in patients with acute brain injury. This study aimed to describe in detail the clinical manifestations of nonconvulsive seizures (NCSzs) with and without a surface EEG correlate, analyze their long-standing effects, and provide data that contribute to understanding the significance of certain scalp EEG patterns observed in critically ill patients. ⋯ Most NCSzs in critically ill comatose patients remain undetectable on scalp EEG. SI-NCSzs frequently occur during nursing care, medical procedures, and family visits. Semiology of NCSzs included ictal minor signs and subtle symptoms, such as breathing pattern changes manifested as patient-ventilator dyssynchrony.
-
Gerstmann syndrome, characterized by a tetrad of symptoms, which are agraphia, acalculia, left-right disorientation, and finger agnosia, presents challenges in both understanding its pathophysiology and establishing effective treatment modalities. Neuroanatomical studies have highlighted the involvement of the dominant parietal lobe, particularly the inferior parietal lobule, in the development of Gerstmann syndrome. ⋯ However, clinical evidence supporting DBS in Gerstmann syndrome remains scarce, posing challenges in patient selection and ethical considerations. Future research should prioritize investigating the efficacy and safety of DBS in Gerstmann syndrome to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
-
Temperature abnormalities are common after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Here, we aimed to describe the evolution of temperature burden despite temperature control and to assess its impact on outcome parameters. ⋯ Early hypothermia was followed by fever after SAH. Increased fever time burden was associated with poor functional outcome after SAH and could be considered for neuroprognostication.